Throughout history, myths play an important role in shaping cultures and civilizations. Since they are intended to guide people morally, it is not uncommon to find myths from different cultures with the same plots and lessons. The Epic of Gilgamesh, “Noah and the Flood,” “Deucalion,” and “Nanny and Nena” all tell of a great flood caused by one or more gods. All four myths are similar in that they describe a supreme being who destroys life due to humanity's wickedness and how a few praiseworthy humans repopulate the Earth giving birth to a new era; although the myths are remarkably similar, they are also very different. “Noah and the Flood” depicts “the Lord” creating a new generation because of his actions. God decides to destroy all life but saves Noah: "I have decided to put an end to all flesh..." (61). God's final decision was caused by humanity. In God's eyes, humans have become corrupt and evil, so he considers it his duty to punish them. Noah is a righteous man and God appreciates this, thus saving Noah and his family. Noah's righteous thoughts and actions save him and every creature in the boat. God promises Noah: "...I will keep my covenant with you: never again will all flesh be exterminated by the waters of the flood..." (63). The flood was a great disaster, but it also paved the way for a new generation. Noah, his relatives and the animals are the pioneers of a new dawn of civilization. God can control this new civilization by preventing wickedness and creating a code of laws for people to follow. The flood is often seen as a mechanism of destruction, but it is also an opportunity to start over and be reborn. The Epic of Gilgamesh also tells of a great flood which shares many similarities with "Noah and the Flood". T...... middle of paper......very good can be disobedient and make mistakes. With Tata and Nana's punishment, Tlaloc is the first god to successfully destroy all life on Earth as he promised. As a result, Tlaloc's actions separate him from the gods of other mythologies. Even though the flood caused by Tlaloc completely wiped out all life on Earth, it still creates the possibility of starting over. Many cultures and civilizations around the world have their own collection of mythologies. Mythologies serve as moral guidance in many societies, so it is not uncommon for stories to have similar lessons or plots. The floods of all four stories were sent by a supreme being to destroy life because in their eyes humanity had been overcome by wickedness and greed. Although in all four stories the floods have been a symbol of destruction, they also mark the beginning of a new era.